Diving tube

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a diving tube, formed by several tube sections ( 3 - 5 - 7 - 10 ), manufactured in a rigid or semi-rigid material, attached to other intermediate sections ( 4 - 6 - 9 ) and to a mouthpiece-type end part ( 11 ) manufactured in a flexible and deformable material, which are alternately coupled to one another by tonguing and grooving, such that the parts forming it can be disassembled from one another and can be coupled forming various configurations, lengths, or with various orientations of the final tube ( 1 ), both sideways and rearwards, hydrodynamically, to adapt to the forward movement in the water.

The present invention relates to a tube which allows practicing swimming, being able to breathe on the surface with the face being submerged; also enabling diving since it includes two valves at the ends thereof which allow a watertight behavior such that the device is submerged without water entering therethrough.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of tubes which enable breathing on the surface when practicing swimming or diving sports is known. Document U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,060 describes a flexible and convoluted tube for the breathing of divers. Document WO-2006023823 describes a coupling between a tube and diving goggles, the tube being located in a central position with respect to the user's head. Document US-2005268906 describes an also central tube which is fixed with a strap to the user's forehead. Document US-2005051164 relates to a tube similar to the previous ones in that it is centrally fixed to the goggles and to a strap from the sides thereof above the head.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a detachable and articulated diving tube which is made up of several elements, although the parts making it up form a single indivisible functional unit. The tube by means of a magnetic anchoring system through its central area enables a front and centered position with respect to the frame of goggles, where the upper end of the tube would be located on the level of the water under normal swimmer floatability conditions, and at the lower end a mouthpiece fitted to the position of the mouth allows breathing. The fact that in the present invention the tube adopts a central position with respect to the swimmer's head and not a side position increases the movement capacity of the swimmer, facilitating the movement of arms in an extended position, as well as improving the turning of the head.

The tube in its extension is provided with a hydrodynamic shape, as a result of its profile and of the shape of the cross-section adopted by the latter, which allows minimizing the resistance of the swimmer to forward movement. The tube is made up of several detachable segments facilitating the replacement of elements with others, each segment having specific mechanical properties according to the elasticity conferred by the materials used. The different segments are attached to one another, either by tonguing and grooving one on top of the other, or through an attachment part, as appropriate. The tube is ended with vents for the aspiration of air, preventing the entrance of water therein.

Through the configuration of the different segments and the different attachment parts, the present design allows replacing elements with others, enabling the formation of several models with the same parts.

In this sense, a variant to the invention is presented where respective valves have been incorporated at the ends of the tube and where each valve only allows the circulation of air in one direction. The valve which is at the submerged end allows the entrance of external air into the tube, but prevents the air inside the tube from exiting to the exterior, whereas a second valve which is located in a submerged part (the elbow of the tube) enables the exit of air inside the tube to the submerged exterior thereof, but prevents the entrance of water into such tube. Both valves are closed in a “rest state”, i.e., without there being any disturbance caused by air pressure thereon, such valves remain closed. The configuration of this variant provides the swimmer with the possibility of a breathing mode which is similar to the one occurring under the following swimming conditions: inspiration of the external air through the mouth, expiration of the air through the mouth inside the water.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to better understand what is described in the present specification, and by way of example, several drawings are attached which describe or depict the morphological, functional and mechanical features of each segment, and the form of linking to the following segment, such that:

FIG. 1 depicts the diving tube of the invention in various side elevational, anterior and rear front elevational and cross-sectional views.

FIG. 2 depicts the tube coupled to the goggles, and the ergonomic adaptation of the invention on the swimmer, in respective side and front elevational views.

FIG. 3 shows the final end of the tube (3) and the air entrance vents (19), in various anterior front elevational, side elevational (longitudinal section), rear front elevational, upper plan and cross-sectional views.

FIG. 4 shows the attachment part (4) in various views.

FIG. 5 shows the part of the tube (5) emerging above the level of the water, in various views.

FIG. 6 shows the segment (6) in various views.

FIG. 7 shows the central section (7) in various views, where an element which is formed as part of the magnetic anchoring system (8) is observed.

FIG. 8 shows in detail the magnetic anchoring mechanism, whereby the tube is fixed to the frame of goggles. In this sense, the central element (7), through an element (8) with magnetic properties, is fixed to the frame of goggles (2) by magnetic attraction (13), as a result of another also magnetic element (12) which is integrated in such goggles (2). In relation to the anchoring system, one of the two elements making it up must have magnetic properties, the other complementary element being able to be replaced with a metal.

FIG. 9 shows the segment (9) in several views.

FIG. 10 shows the elbow of the tube (10), in various views.

FIG. 11 shows the end part of the tube (11), connecting to the swimmer's mouth, in various views.

FIG. 12 shows in side views the mechanical deformation experienced by the tube as a consequence of the elasticity of the attachment part (6).

FIG. 13 depicts in front views the mechanical deformation experienced by the tube as a consequence of the elasticity of the attachment part (6).

FIG. 14 shows in a side elevational view the mechanical deformation experienced by the tube as a consequence of the small balancing movement provided by the arch forming part of the central element (7).

FIG. 15 depicts in various side and front elevational views the possibility of a parallel configuration of two tubes, where the elbow (10) has been replaced with a T-shaped part (14) which connects at its opposite ends to each of the segments (9) of each tube, and where the mouthpiece (11) for breathing is coupled in the central part of the part (14), each tube having the same features described above.

FIG. 16 shows in various views the final end of the tube (3) incorporating a valve (15) allowing the entrance of external air into the tube but preventing the air inside the tube from exiting to the exterior, therefore being a valve which only allows the circulation of air in one direction (16). Said valve is closed in a “rest state”.

FIG. 17 shows in various views the tube section (10) incorporating a valve (17) allowing the exit of air inside the tube to the submerged exterior thereof and preventing the entrance of water into such tube, therefore being a valve which only allows the circulation of air in one direction (18). Said valve is closed in a “rest state”.

FIG. 18 shows in various upper plan and front elevational views the tube section (10) which can have a T shape (14), this tube section having three openings, two of which are located opposite and in one and the same longitudinal axis, and the third of which is located centered and in an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the part, which connects with a mouthpiece (11) and which therefore enables a parallel configuration of two tubes with a front orientation connected to the part (14) through the respective tube sections (9) of each tube.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The diving tube of the invention is of the type of those comprising at the proximal end a mouthpiece (11) for coupling to the diver's mouth and at the opposite end an end part (3) provided with a valve (15) or vent (19) preventing or limiting the passage of water towards the inside of the tube (1). As observed in the figures, said tube (1) is formed by several tube sections (3-5-7-10), manufactured in a rigid or semi-rigid material, which are attached to other intermediate sections (4-6-9) and to a mouthpiece-type end part (11) manufactured in a flexible and deformable material, alternately coupled to one another by tonguing and grooving, such that the parts forming it can be disassembled from one another and can be coupled forming various configurations, lengths, or with various orientations of the final tube (1), both sideways and rearwards, to better adapt to the forward movement in the water.

This tube has a central tube section (7) incorporating means for fixing to the frame of diving goggles (2). This part is made up of an arch which, in addition to forming part of the magnetic anchoring system, allows a small balancing movement with the function of absorbing deformations against the action of friction. The anchoring depicted in the figure consists of respective complementary magnetic elements (8) and (12), respectively assembled in said central tube section (7) and in the frame of the diving goggles (2), one of the two elements (8) and (12) forming part of said anchoring system, indistinctly being able to be a metal, thus allowing the fixing of the tube (1) to the frame of goggles (2) by magnetic attraction (13).

This central section (7) is rigid or semi-rigid and is accompanied by an upper section (5) which is the element emerging outside the water, which is bent in an obtuse angle; whereas at the lower part it is prolonged in an elbow (10) in an acute angle, in which there is coupled the mouthpiece (11) for coupling to the diver's mouth. The attachment between these three sections of rigid or semi-rigid tube (5-7-10) is carried out by means of respective flexible and deformable coupling tubes (6) and (9) which allow varying the position of both tube sections (5) and (10) with respect to the central section (7) which is fixed in the diving goggles. FIGS. 12 and 13 show the mechanical deformation experienced by the tube as a consequence of the elasticity of (6) forwards and rearwards with the function of better adapting to the water by the action of the movement, and sideways. FIG. 14 shows the mechanical deformation experienced by the tube from the small balancing movement provided by the arch forming part of the central element (7) in its coupling in the flexible sections (6) and (9).

As can be seen in the figures, the tube section (5) emerging outside the water has at the free end an elastic coupling (4) in which the final section of the diving tube is assembled, which incorporates a valve or vents allowing the passage of air and preventing or reducing the entrance of water therein.

The figures show the section of all the portions of the tube (1), which has a considerably triangular configuration with slightly rounded edges and sides, having one of its vertices towards the front which allows minimizing the hydrodynamic resistance of the swimmer during the forward movement.

As has been described up until now, the present invention is made up of parts made with materials having specific properties detailed above, the technique of injecting plastic, rubber or silicone on molds, to form each of the elements forming the device, being able to be considered as an embodiment.

Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention, as well as a preferred embodiment, it is started for the relevant purposes that the materials, shape, size and arrangement of the described elements can be modified, provided that this does not entail an alteration of the essential features of the invention which are claimed below: 

1. A diving tube, comprising at the proximal end a mouthpiece (11) for coupling to the diver's mouth and at the opposite end an end part (3) provided with a valve or vent preventing or limiting the passage of water towards the inside of the tube (1), characterized by being formed by several tube sections (3-5-7-10), manufactured in a rigid or semi-rigid material, which are attached to other intermediate sections (4-6-9) and to a mouthpiece-type end part (11) manufactured in a flexible and deformable material, alternately coupled to one another by tonguing and grooving, such that the parts forming it can be disassembled from one another and can be coupled forming various configurations, lengths, or with various orientations of the final tube (1), both sideways and rearwards, hydrodynamically, to better adapt to the forward movement in the water.
 2. The diving tube according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a rigid or semi-rigid central tube section (7) incorporating means for fixing to the frame of diving goggles (2), which is accompanied by an upper section (5) emerging outside the water, bent in an obtuse angle, and at the lower part by an elbow (10) in an acute angle, in which there is coupled the mouthpiece (11) for coupling to the diver's mouth, the attachment between these three rigid or semi-rigid tube sections (5-7-10) being established by means of respective flexible and deformable coupling tubes (6) and (9) which allow varying the position of both tube sections (5) and (10) with respect to the central section (7) which is fixed in the diving goggles.
 3. The diving tube according to claim 2, characterized in that it has an element (8) with magnetic properties in the arch of the central section (7) which allows, together with another complementary magnetic element (12) which is integrated in the frame of diving goggles, the tube (1) to be fixed to the goggles (2) by the magnetic attraction (13) of both elements (8) and (12).
 4. The diving tube according to claim 3, characterized in that one of the two elements (8) or (12) forming part of the anchoring system can indistinctly be a metallic and not necessarily magnetic element, thus allowing the fixing of the tube (1) to the frame of goggles (2) by magnetic attraction (13).
 5. The diving tube according to claim 1, characterized in that the tube section (5) emerging outside the water has at the free end an elastic coupling (4) in which the final section of the diving tube is assembled, which incorporates a valve (15) which is closed in a rest state and which allows the entrance of air in one direction (16), or vents (19) preventing or reducing the entrance of water therein.
 6. The diving tube according to claim 1, characterized in that the section (10) of the tube (1) can incorporate a valve (17) which is closed in a rest state, which allows the exit of air in one direction (18) and which acts as a drain valve since it facilitates the drainage of water from inside the tube.
 7. The diving tube according to claim 1, characterized in that the section (10) of the tube (1) can have a T shape (14), this tube section having three openings, two of which are located opposite and in one and the same longitudinal axis, and the third of which is located centered and in an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the part, which connects with a mouthpiece (11) and which therefore enables a parallel configuration of two tubes with a front orientation connected to the part (14) through the respective tube sections (9) of each tube.
 8. The diving tube according to claim 1, characterized in that all the portions of the tube (1) have a considerably triangular cross-section with slightly rounded edges and sides, having one of its vertices towards the front which allows minimizing the hydrodynamic resistance of the swimmer during the forward movement. 